Valtteri Bottas: We’re going to compete for a top ten place

Valtteri Bottas set the seventh fastest time in the second practice of the Australian Grand Prix and expects to make it to the qualifying final. His Alfa Romeo teammate Guanyu Zhou, who is racing at Albert Park for the first time, said the track is different from what he expected after driving the simulator.

Valtteri Bottas (7th): “I’m quite happy with our positions and I think I have good chances to continue the streak of reaching the final of the qualifiers – I don’t intend to give up! This is our goal and if we select the right settings we can compete for a place in the top ten.

Today we managed to evaluate several tire compounds – they work exactly as we expected. We’re confident we’ll be able to unleash their potential, and I haven’t had a strong relegation, which is positive. In general I am satisfied.

I liked the new track configuration. She is fast, it will be easier to overtake, but not much. I think the organizers did a good job.”

Guanyu Zhou (15th): “The introduction to the track turned out to be interesting, but maybe not quite as I imagined it. I’ve worked a lot on the simulator, but it’s only in real life that you realize how narrow the track is and how dense the grass is around the edges. The track is difficult, but I liked it – it’s interesting to fly on it, and I liked the rhythm.

I will continue to study the car and how to get the most out of it over the weekend. The need to learn a new song added complexity, but I like it – I don’t see a big problem.

Our pace looks promising, so I’m optimistic. I have a lot of work with the engineers, but I hope we will find a solution on Saturday. If the circle can be put together, then I will be in a high position.”